DownBeat June 2008 [antikvár]

I'lbjm l olk Ja//Si-iisalioii First Take by Jason Koransky m I^UCBCV In Stores May 27th W See full tour schedules at Motema.com "The rarneAhton/o Ciacca wm soon be on the Hps of discerning Jazz fans throughout the world. It's Inevitable.' - BENNY GOLSON a^pflfW 2-5. Ronnie Scotb, LondoQ , la Speda, IT opening for H. H July S. Jos bDojie FmUvoL iton^ Farewell lAJE ll's snci Ihiil in the same issue of DownBcal iluit ccl-ebraies jazz educalion ihrough Ihe Siudenl Music Awards and fealures a live "Blindfold Tesl" wilh Dr. David Baker and Jamey Aebensold conducted al the January lAJE Omference in Toronio. we have to discuss the end of the International Association for Jazz Education. The lAJE has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Facing insurrnouniable debt from factors such as the lack of money generated frotn the Campaign for Jazz and poor attendance at the 2(H)8 Toronto conference, the organization has filed bankruptcy papers in a Kansas court, which will appoint a trustee to oversee its operations. lAJE closed the doors of its Manhattan. Kan., office on April 18. canceled the 2009 lAJE Conference scheduled for Seattle and ceased publication of the Jazz Education Journal. Barring any unforeseen infusion of cash to save the organization, the court will liquidate lAJE's a.ssets to its creditors. "lAJE as it presently stands will no longer exist," wrote LAJE President Chuck Owen in an April 18 letter sent to lAJE members. This stands as a sad and disheartening turn of events. The lAJE was one of the pillars of the international jazz community, serving as a meeting point for the exchange of ideas about how jazz can anti should be passed down to the next generation. Education is a cornerstone of jazz, and the lAJE. through all of its activities, bccamc a nexus for discussions about die future of jazz. "if we don't survive, we will be sorely missed." said Baker, a past president of lAJE and chair of the jazz department at Indiana University in Bloomington. "It was one of the tme advocates for this music. The conference created a community under one roof The journal was a place to exchange ideas. And overall. lAJE gave teaclici"s—some in isolated lueiis—a placo to share their wisdom, to have an exchange with peers. It would be a sad commentary on the jazz community if it does die." In discussing the organization's llnancial crisis. Alan Bergman, lAJE general counsel, said that they "have not found any evidence of improprieties." Bergman said that regional and international lAJE chapters are sepanite coipo-raie entities or voluntary as.socialions, and that it's up to Ihc couil-ap|)ointcd tmstee to ileter-mino if these cha[)ters' assets arc part of the overall organization's assets. It they arc. lAJE's creditors will be privy to their assets. If the court rules that their assets can't be touched by the creditors, the regional chapters can—and most likely will—continue to operate. ^ Another asset is the name International Association for Jazz Education. "It is a trade-' mark," Bergman said. "This will be sold to a friendly party. The owner of this name can form an organization and start from scratch." J The loss of the jazz industry's de facto annu-_ al conference will hurt. But what will hurt even more are the lost performance opporoinities and chances to interact with jazz professionals that lAJE gave to students. j "The impact is horrific " said Ban Marantz, director of jazz studies at Booker T.' Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. "This is the only major jazz education organization of its type in the world. It's where we discover our next gen-^ eration. It also puts a stamp an anything we do as being in the right direction if you play lAJE. Every major name that's come through our school has played LAJE." I Marantz stressed that it's vital for jazz educators to regroup imd find a way to restart this—or another—organization. "Educators have been been talking." he said. "This could be a new beginning." ] "Our efforts and our passion should t)e to collcctively rally the community to recognize the itnportance lAJE has had and continues to have in the life and development of jazz and Jazz education," Owen wrote in his letter. We will continue to rejxirt on this situation in DownBeat. The loss of lAJE has left a huge void tliat eveiyone in the Jiizz community must work to fill, We will of course continue our effons —such as the Student Music Awards, found i>n Page 91 — to ad\ ;uice Jazz education. And wc hold out ho|V that l.AJE—or a simiU\r organization - can emetgc Wwm this bankruptcy. Bakor. who has s|vnt his life as a tiivless advocate lor jazz education, said it Ivst aNnit the cur-^ tvni situation: "None of us can afford to let Uiis hapivn." DB